Hanger



A 6, 1935. A. WATERMAN 2,010,512

HANGER Filed June 22, 1953 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HANGER Arthur Waterman, Newtonville, Mass.

Application June 22, 1933, Serial No. 677,003

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to devices for supporting dependently,articles suspended therefrom, as so-called hangers, racks and the like,and is more particularly directed to an improved 5 hanger or rack forarticles of wearing apparel or household accessories that may be drapedor similarly suspended therefrom, for use in the home or for display orexhibition purposes, as in the shop or store.

While my invention, as will be manifest from the following, possesses awide range of utility, for the purposes of this disclosure I haveelected to describe it as it may be employed as a hanger or so-calledrack for supporting articles of neckwear, as ties, cravats, scarfs andthe like. This is merely illustrative, however, and in no sense is to beconstrued as limiting the use of my invention to this particularfunction.

As is well known, various types of neck-tie holders or racks areavailable, some comprising a tie-receiving ring supported from aflexible strap, while others embody a rod from which a series ofvertically spaced cross-pieces project to serve as tie-supporting arms.Others are of a ladder construction, with the rungs sub-dividedintotiereceiving sections, while, in some instances, various types ofspring arms for resiliently gripping the ties are employed. However, allof these prior constructions possess disadvantages in one form oranother and, therefore, have failed to meet the latent demand for asimple, economical and efficient tie hanger, which under conditions ofhome use, especially, will respond adequately to the known requirementsof prospective users. For example, existing devices, such as described,in many instances are more or less cumbersome in appearance and byreason of their construction cannot be used except where considerablespace is available for the hangers andties supported therefrom. Also,they fail to meet the requirement that the ties not only be supported ina nonwrinkling position, but, of greater importance, that each tie mustbe supported separately of the others and at all times must beindividually visible for instant selection and removal from the rack,without disturbing the ties adjacent thereto or any of the others uponthe hanging device. As each prior construction is now constituted, theremoval of a tie cannot be successfully accomplished without causinganother or others to be displaced upon the hanger or separated entirelytherefrom, unless considerable care is exercised, which, obviously, isobjectionable from the users standpoint and has been a strong deterentto a more extensive use oi. tie-racks, the

desirability of which use is recognized, provided the design thereofmakes it possible for the average user to conveniently employ it as atime-saving medium, as well as a means of preserving his neck-wearagainst wrinkling when not in service.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to provide a simpleand inexpensive hanger or rack for supporting various articles'that maybe suspended therefrom, in such a. way that any one of the articles maybe conveniently removed or withdrawn from the hanger, without disturbingothers associated therewith, each of the articles carried by the hangerbeing visible at all times to facilitate the selection of that desiredby the user.

More specifically, it is the object of this invention to provide ahanger or rack that is especially useful in affording a medium forsupporting neckwear, as ties, cravats, scarfs and the like, in a mannerwhich will preserve them against wrinkling and at the same time rendereach tie readily accessible for instant removal fromthe rack or hangerindependently of the others, and otherwise respond to the aforementionedrequirements of such a practical article, in a simple, economical andefficient manner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hanger or rack forneck-wear and the like which is adaptable for the commercial display orexhibition of such articles or goods as may be suspended therefrom, thehanger or rack embodying features that make it readily applicable tosuch use, as will be evident from the detailed description of myinvention.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my inventionwill become manifest as the description proceeds and I would have itclearly understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the fullrange of equivalents, both in structure and in avenues of use, to whichI may be entitled under my invention in its broadest aspect.

Certain embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of s'o-called neck-tierack, intended, primarily, for individual use.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation, of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of another form which my invention may take.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the structure illustrated in thepreceding figure.

Figure 5 is a view, in perspective, of what is termed a multiple hanger.

Figure 6 is an elevation ,showing my invention as it may be embodied ina display or exhibition structure.

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the base of the device shown in Figure6.

Figure 8 is a transverse-section of a preferred type of tie-supportingarm, such as is illustrated in the preceding figures, and,

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of a further modification of myinvention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which like characters ofreference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views,and more particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1and 2, the hanger includes a bracket I of sheet or cast metal, or othersuitable material, having a body-portion 8 ,and a relatively angularlydisposed attaching flange 9, apertured as indicated at It) for thereception of screws or nails, whereby the bracket may be fixed toanappropriate supporting surface, as the wall of a room, closet door orthe like. Obviously, this bracket may take other forms than shown, inthe present instance, the aforesaid body-portion including asubstantially annular surface H, centrally apertured to receive a pin,bolt or other device, as at l 2, from which the rotatable rack ortie-receiving member-of the device is supported, as and for the purposeshereinafter explained.

As will be observed, the aforesaid rack or tiereceiving member, embodiesa hub l3 having a plurality of preferably integrally formed radial arms[4, each arm terminating in an upstanding head [5, substantially asshown. The said member may be formed from any suitable material,preferably, however, of cast or sheet metal, the arms in order to impartto them suiiicient rigidity, when produced in relatively light guagesheet metal, being formed with parallel side flanges, as at Na in Figure8. Of course, they may be of any other feasible cross-section.

Interposed between the rotatable member of the device and the bracket 1,is a preferably annular plate 66 and a spacer I! which is bored for thereception of the aforesaid mounting device l2. This spacer, which may beof the configuration shown, or of any other desirable shape and integralwith the plate l6 or with the hub II of the rotatable member, asproduced in castings, for example, in the present embodiment of theinvention is a separate element, the bracket 1,

plate "5 and the spacer, with the rotatable member, being held intheirassembled relationship by the pin l2, the lower end of which may bereduced to receive a washer l8 to abut upon the under surface of the hub[3, the protruding portion of the pin being upset, as at l9, as in ariveting operation.

In use, the bracket is attached to a suitable support, as described, thetie-receiving member being disposed in a horizontal plane. The form ofthe invention shown accommodates sixteen ties, a tie being disposed uponeach arm by looping it thereover, as by grasping the tie between thethumb and index finger of the right hand and passing it over the head ofthe arm to suspend it therefrom, the head functioning to prevent thelateral displacement of the tie. The disposition of the arms affordsample space to permit the ties suspended from the rack to hang or drapein natural lines, or in a non-wrinkling position, each tie being out ofcontact with those on either side thereof, so that in the placement of atie upon an arm, or in its removal therefrom, the ties on the contiguousarms are in nowise disturbed. By

having the ties suspended in a circular arrangement, it is obvious thata maximum number may be stored in a minimum of space, while, at the sametime, each tie upon the rack is clearly visible at all times, so that aselection may be quickly made by rotating the rack with the fingers, orby wrasping the desired tie and withdrawing it over the arm from whichit is supported, or removing it over the head end thereof, the reverseof the manner in which it is looped thereover.

The plate l6, as determined by the height of the spacer i1, issufficiently close to the arm-engaging portions of the neck ties tofunction as a guard or protector against dust and also as a retainer, itbeing evident that the plate will operate to limit any direct upwardmovement of a tie which might possibly result from its contact with onethat is being removed, as in the case where a tie may be of heavy orrough surface fabric, with a tendency to cling to other material.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the plate l6, aswill be noted, is omitted, the equivalent of the spacer I! beingsupported from the bracket by a pin, similar to that of the structureheretofore described. The rotatable member, likewise, correspondsessentially to that of the preferred form of the invention, the heads I5of the arms I l, however, taking a different shape, as shown at I511.The bracket, in this instance, curves downwardly from its attachingflange 9a to the portion thereof which is engaged by the pin, as shownat 20.

The multiple hanger illustrated in Figure 5, embodies a special form ofbracket having two arms 2i and 22, preferably integral with thebody-portion thereof, which is apertured to function similarly to theattaching flanges of the previously described forms of the invention,each arm having attached thereto a relatively rotatable rack, withcooperating dust guard or protector, as in Figure 1.

For display purposes, a rack, with associated protector plate It,corresponding to the preferred form of my invention, is supported fromthe arm 23 of,the standard 24, adjustably or otherwise mounted in thesocket 25 of the base 26 which may be of the shape shown in Figure 7. Ifdesired, the respective arms ll may be of a length to accommodateseveral ties to increase the capacity of the rack, as might be desirablein a commercial display.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 9, the rotatable racksupported from the bracket 1, in association with the plate l8, as inthe other forms of the invention, is provided with arms 23 of a loopformation, through which the ties may be passed, or, in lieu of this,these arms may be of spring stock with the free ends of the loopformingportions shaped to permit of the insertion of the ties within the loopsby pressing them between the free ends and the body-portions of thearms.

While I have described my invention more or le$ specifically, as it mayfunction as a tie-supporting rack, it will be entirely evident from theconstruction shown that it may be employed with equally satisfactoryresults as a hanger for towels or wash-cloths, in the bathroom, forinstance, or that the arms I4 may serve to support other hangers, suchas those customarily used in hanging men's suits and women's dresses inclosets. Also, by producing my invention in larger dimensions than wouldbe required for any of the uses pointed out, it may serve as a clothesdryer, all of such applications. of my invention and various changes instructural details coming within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hanger embodying a bracket adapted to be fixed to a suitablesupporting surface, a member connected thereto for relative rotation ina horizontal plane, said member embodying a hub portion and a pluralityof rigid radial arms, the end of each thereof being upturned in asubstantially vertical plane, and a flat disc-like element dependentfrom said bracket and overlying a portion of each of said arms, adjacenttheir jointure with said hub, said disc functioning as a guard toprevent dislocation of articles supported upon said arms.

2. A hanger for neck-ties and similar articles of wearing apparel,including a bracket having a vertically disposed portion attachable to awall or other supporting surface, and a horizontal portion, a rackembodying a plurality of rigid radial arms, each being adapted to carrya neck-tie or the like looped thereover independently of those suspendedfrom contiguous arms, vertical means integral with each of said arms toprevent lateral displacement of the neck-tie supported thereon, meansfor connecting said rack to the horizontal portion of said bracket forrelative rotative movement in a horizontal plane, said latter means including a spacing element and a pin extending from said bracket to saidrack through said element, and an annular plate between said spacingelement and said bracket and overlying said rack arms in spaced relationthereto adapted to dually function as a retainer of articles suspendedfrom said arms, under predetermined conditions of use of said hanger,and as a shield to protect the arm engaging portions of such articlesagainst dust accumulation.

3. A hanger for neck-ties and the like, including a rack formed of sheetmetal embodying a hub portion and a plurality of integral radial arms,each terminating in a vertical head-forming portion, the armsintermediate of said hub and their head portion being substantially of achannel cross-section, a-bracket having a vertically disposed attachingend adapted to be fixed to a wall or other support, the other end ofsaid bracket lying in a horizontal plane and being apertured to receivea pin, a spacing element interposed between said bracket and said rackand a pin connecting said bracket and said rack through said spacingelement, whereby the rack will be supported in a horizontal plane forrotative movement on the axis of said pin.

4. A hanger for neck-ties and the like, including a rack formed ofsheet'metal embodying a hub and a'plurality of integral radial arms,each terminating in an enlarged upstanding surface, a bracket having avertically disposed attaching portion, adapted to be fixed to a wall orother supporting surface, and a portion lying in a horizontal plane, thelatter portion being apertured to receive a pin, a disc mounted belowsaid bracket, a spacing element interposed between said disc and saidrack and a pin connecting said bracket and said rack through said discand spacing element, whereby said rack may rotate relatively thereto ina horizontal plane, said disc and the upstanding ends of said armscooperating to retain the neck-ties or the like upon said arms whenlooped thereover.

ARTHUR WATERMAN.

